EFF: Google Chromebook is still spying on grade school students

Posted:
in iPad edited April 2017
Privacy advocates at the Electronic Frontier Foundation have again outlined how Google is successfully dumping millions of low-cost Chromebooks on U.S. schools, enabling the mass collection and storage of information on children without the consent of their parents or even the understanding of many school administrators.




Two years after it filed a federal complaint against Google alleging that it was "collecting and data mining school children's personal information, including their Internet searches," the EFF has issued a new status report detailing how Google is still working to erase minor students' privacy "often without their parents notice or consent, and usually without a real choice to opt out."Educational technology services often collect far more information on kids than is necessary and store this information indefinitely" - EFF

The latest EFF report, written by Frida Alim, Nate Cardozo, Gennie Gebhart, Karen Gullo and Amul Kalia, noted that "the way the educational system treats the privacy of students is undergoing profound changes," due to a massive rollout of low-priced Chromebooks paired with educational services that "are often available for a steeply reduced price, and are sometimes even free."

The privacy groups investigation has "found that educational technology services often collect far more information on kids than is necessary and store this information indefinitely," tying personally identifying information (including names and birthdays) with children's "browsing history, search terms, location data, contact lists, and behavioral information."

The EFF noted that "some programs upload this student data to the cloud automatically and by default. All of this often happens without the awareness or consent of students and their families."

In stark contrast, Apple has emphasized in its education site that it "will never track, share, or sell student information for advertising or marketing purposes" and that the "security, privacy, confidentiality and integrity of student information is always protected." The site also provides a data and privacy overview for schools and privacy guide for parents.


Apple's Education site

A Chromebook and Google account for every child

Last year, a report cited former IDC analyst Bob O'Donnell as pointing out that "people buy Chromebooks because they're looking for the cheapest device." Now an independent analyst running Technalysis Research, O'Donnell referred to Chromebooks' primary attraction as being cheap enough to attract "price sensitive" buyers.


Google emphasizes super low Chromebook prices, not privacy


Many parents of schools rolling out cheap Chromebooks to their children are finding themselves "kept in the dark about what apps their kids were required to use and what data was being collected."

Increasingly, U.S. schools have adopted mandatory polices for grade-school students that assign children Chromebooks and enroll them into cloud services that collect data, without notice and without any alternative options.

Parents have reported to the EFF that schools have mass-enrolled their children into Google email accounts using their full names, posted their photos on social media sites and enrolled them into other services that collect data without any notification.

Additionally, schools commonly assign students passwords that are easy to guess, such as their birthdays or student IDs, and are then often prohibited from changing their passwords, resulting in Chromebook security being worse in practice than Googles "embarrassing" Android.

The report notes that parents commonly "did not receive any information about ed tech use until after the technology had already been implemented and was in active classroom use," and that even in California, where strong student privacy laws exist, no specifics were presented to parents until after the implementation, at which point "the teacher emphasized the Chromebooks value for individualized instruction."


Outside of cash-strapped US schools, cheap Chromebooks aren't appealing to buyers


Despite federal protections under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act that bar U.S. public schools from sharing student names, ID numbers and birthdays with third parties like Google without written parental consent, parents across the U.S. are finding that Google is routinely collecting lists of student data from schools without any notification or consent.

One parent cited in the report stated that he isn't only concerned about Google collecting data on his seven-year-old daughter in third grade, but also the "long-term ramifications for children who are taught to hand over data to Google without question."

He noted "in the end, Google is an advertising company. They sell ads, they track information on folks. And were not comfortable with our daughter getting forced into that at such an early age, when she doesn't know any better."

Phony privacy policies

The EFF said it "investigated the 152 ed tech services that survey respondents reported were in use in classrooms in their community, and found that their privacy policies were lacking in encryption, data retention, and data sharing policies.""We're putting all our eggs in one basket that were not in control of. We dont know where this student data is going." - school Chromebook administrator

Beyond weak policies, there's no real evidence that any student data was protected "in practice as well as in policy."

A so-called "Student Privacy Pledge" voluntarily signed by providers "features glaring loopholes in its definitions of what constitutes 'student information' and 'educational service providers," the EFF noted.

In many cases even educators rolling out Chromebooks have a limited understanding what Google and its partners are doing. One school administrator in the report admitted, "were putting all our eggs in one basket that were not in control of. We don't know where this student data is going."

He stated that "we have privacy policies for our website, and for our student academic records, but not so much for students information in regards to what Google is collecting. We can't guarantee what Google is or is not doing with this information. It's all pretty vague, and it's not the kind of thing you want to be vague about."


Lobbying for loopholes

States that have enacted additional student privacy legislation, including California, Colorado, and Connecticut, are also having to defend privacy laws against intense industry efforts to gut those laws.

This week, California Assembly bill A.B. 165 which "attempted to create a carve-out in the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act (CalECPA), one of the strongest digital privacy bills in the nation" was pulled only after public outcry from the EFF and its supporters.

The intense pressure to intentionally weaken privacy protections for children indicates that there is tremendous value in installing spying hardware in schools, clearly greater than the loss-leader hardware Google is working to put in front of grade-school students.

Apple sells hardware, Google sells you

The EFF has outlined a series of steps parents and schools can take to defend their students' privacy, while also noting many challenges, including a lack of transparency and a general indifference to questions that many parents have experienced in trying to find answers.

Two years ago, Google batted down the EFFs complaints in a statement from Jonathan Rochelle, its director of Google Apps for Education, who maintained that the company's policies are in line with current laws and industry standards and that Google was committed to keeping student data private and secure.

However, as noted by parents and school administrators, Google's business model is based on surveillance advertising. It earns nothing from hardware sales of Chromebooks, and even its hardware partners have razor thin margins selling and supporting the devices.

Google's premium-priced Chromebook Pixel was recently discontinued as a product after failing to sell in meaningful quantities, leaving the platform a basic low-end netbook that almost exclusively targets cash-strapped U.S. schools.

Chromebook are not effectively "not a product," as evidenced by the fact that virtually nobody uses them outside of education. Despite not being profitable, they exist to collect information, much the same way as the company's free Google Maps. In both cases, the product is Googles users, and the paying customer is Googles advertisers.

Back in 2014, Apples chief executive Tim Cook outlined the importance of customers data security in an open letter stating "our business model is very straightforward: We sell great products."

Cook added, "we don't build a profile based on your email content or web browsing habits to sell to advertisers. We don't 'monetize' the information you store on your iPhone or in iCloud. And we don't read your email or your messages to get information to market to you. Our software and services are designed to make our devices better. Plain and simple."
GeorgeBMac
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 46
    magman1979magman1979 Posts: 1,292member
    If I could smash every single one of those garbage devices into a pulp I would...
    andrewj5790watto_cobratallest skil
  • Reply 2 of 46
    sockrolidsockrolid Posts: 2,789member
    Google.
    You just can't trust them.
    andrewj5790magman1979watto_cobraGeorgeBMacjbdragontallest skil
  • Reply 3 of 46
    revenantrevenant Posts: 621member
    "Don't [get caught] Be[ing] Evil"

    google is always looking of early adopters.
    brakkenpscooter63watto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 46
    brakkenbrakken Posts: 687member
    Google, please die. After all these years of the public and enterprise and education and government rejecting Google's business model - stealing private information and making it public for advertising purposes - why the hell haven't G-management simply developed a different business model? Deliberately obtuse.
    andrewj5790magman1979watto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 46
    I've already talked about the experience with my daughters, their school and Google. It's terrible how little staff know about Google and privacy. They just like all the free services and how easy they are to use (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs). At least in our case I was able to get them to change their policies.

    Now that my daughter is in high school they actually have a class on safety and the internet, where they talk about things like passwords, e-mail scams, not giving out personal information and related issues to keep safe. Yet they still use Google services. Go figure.
    andrewj5790pscooter63magman1979watto_cobrajbdragon
  • Reply 6 of 46
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    The author is free to correct me if mistaken but in this latest report the EFF is not claiming Google is "spying" on schoolchildren, nor is Google attempting to collect data about children that they should not. The way I've read the report is that schools themselves are not handling student privacy in the manner they should. The way the article was written implies over and over that this is Google doing something onerous, which is not what the EFF is saying is it? 

    Edited for clarification
    edited April 2017 techrules
  • Reply 7 of 46
    techrulestechrules Posts: 53unconfirmed, member
    This article is implying something that the EFF report is not indicating.   It is not Google that is collecting the data but the schools are allowing other non Google companies to access private data.   Or does the author have other data?

    If not really to be fair should clarify.
  • Reply 8 of 46
    gatorguy said:
    The author is free to correct me if mistaken but the EFF is not claiming Google is "spying" on schoolchildren, nor is Google attempting to collect data about children that they should not. The way I've read the report is that schools themselves are not handling student privacy in the manner they should. The way the article was written implies over and over that this is Google doing something onerous, which is not what the EFF is saying is it? 
    You clearly didn't read the report, or the linked federal complaint the EFF filed against Google two years ago. Why do you hate the truth so much? This isn't brain surgery or controversial. You're just working to cloud the water with "questions?" that you expect others to spend their time debunking.
    pscooter63magman1979bestkeptsecretwatto_cobraGeorgeBMacjbdragonjony0
  • Reply 9 of 46
    techrules said:
    This article is implying something that the EFF report is not indicating.   It is not Google that is collecting the data but the schools are allowing other non Google companies to access private data.   Or does the author have other data?

    If not really to be fair should clarify.
    http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/12/02/eff-complaint-accuses-google-of-mining-data-from-school-children
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 10 of 46
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    techrules said:
    This article is implying something that the EFF report is not indicating.   It is not Google that is collecting the data but the schools are allowing other non Google companies to access private data.   Or does the author have other data?

    If not really to be fair should clarify.
    http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/12/02/eff-complaint-accuses-google-of-mining-data-from-school-children
    Taht old article may have had some factual basis. Really can't remember for certain, but has nothing to do with this new report from the EFF does it? I'm sure it wasn't intentional on the AI author's part but what the EFF had to say today and the way this article reported it are somewhat different. It's almost as tho the AI author is trying to pin the blame on Google which is not what the EFF claims.
    techrules
  • Reply 11 of 46
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    gatorguy said:
    The author is free to correct me if mistaken but the EFF is not claiming Google is "spying" on schoolchildren, nor is Google attempting to collect data about children that they should not. The way I've read the report is that schools themselves are not handling student privacy in the manner they should. The way the article was written implies over and over that this is Google doing something onerous, which is not what the EFF is saying is it? 
    You clearly didn't read the report, or the linked federal complaint the EFF filed against Google two years ago. Why do you hate the truth so much? This isn't brain surgery or controversial. You're just working to cloud the water with "questions?" that you expect others to spend their time debunking.

    I clearly DID read the EFF report which is exactly why I made the comment I did. Could you please respond to what I actually asked rather than pointing to some two year old article to imply the EFF is now accusing Google yet again today?

    FWIW I did not know until your comment that you wrote this article. I was assuming we might have been misreading the authors intent. 
    edited April 2017 techrules
  • Reply 12 of 46
    Google is The Coachman from Pinocchio's Pleasure Island. Wake up people. 
    magman1979watto_cobraGeorgeBMac
  • Reply 13 of 46
    magman1979magman1979 Posts: 1,292member
    gatorguy said:
    The author is free to correct me if mistaken but in this latest report the EFF is not claiming Google is "spying" on schoolchildren, nor is Google attempting to collect data about children that they should not. The way I've read the report is that schools themselves are not handling student privacy in the manner they should. The way the article was written implies over and over that this is Google doing something onerous, which is not what the EFF is saying is it? 

    Edited for clarification
    No matter how clear cut Google's complicity is in data theft and mining, you always manage to be the apologist for them, quite grotesque.
    watto_cobraGeorgeBMac
  • Reply 14 of 46
    metrixmetrix Posts: 256member
    You would think Google would say something like if you are under age, say 16 or younger "Please don't enter your real name, phone number, address or anything that would identify you, as we don't want anyone to take advantage of you for any reason."
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 15 of 46
    Andrew3Andrew3 Posts: 1unconfirmed, member
    Google and Chromebooks are the best thing to happened in education for a long time. For too long education has been tied into the rip off Microsoft system that has smothered development and innovation. Then along came Apple with their overpriced iPads seeing schools as an easy money making target, selling technology that just didn't do the job. Then Google comes along and changes the whole scene. Now Microsoft are having to change the way they work and start to offer what they do cheaply or even for free or they will die. Apple has all but disappeared from the education scene as will Microsoft. Teachers who have experienced Chromebooks love them because in Apple's words - they just work. They do 80% of what students need and that's after a very short life. Within a few years they will do your video editing, photo editing, CAD etc and guess what Google do it all for free. And Google do not harvest any info from any students. The problem is too many techies in too many schools are ex-Windows and need to get up to date with modern security. I've been teaching for 30 years and have watched the change with interest. Don't stress Apple/Microsoft fans you can't fight the change, it's evolution or better Googlehttp 😉
    techrulesbrucemc
  • Reply 16 of 46
    Andrew3 said:
    Google and Chromebooks are the best thing to happened in education for a long time. For too long education has been tied into the rip off Microsoft system that has smothered development and innovation. Then along came Apple with their overpriced iPads seeing schools as an easy money making target, selling technology that just didn't do the job. Then Google comes along and changes the whole scene. Now Microsoft are having to change the way they work and start to offer what they do cheaply or even for free or they will die. Apple has all but disappeared from the education scene as will Microsoft. Teachers who have experienced Chromebooks love them because in Apple's words - they just work. They do 80% of what students need and that's after a very short life. Within a few years they will do your video editing, photo editing, CAD etc and guess what Google do it all for free. And Google do not harvest any info from any students. The problem is too many techies in too many schools are ex-Windows and need to get up to date with modern security. I've been teaching for 30 years and have watched the change with interest. Don't stress Apple/Microsoft fans you can't fight the change, it's evolution or better Googlehttp 😉

  • Reply 17 of 46
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    metrix said:
    You would think Google would say something like if you are under age, say 16 or younger "Please don't enter your real name, phone number, address or anything that would identify you, as we don't want anyone to take advantage of you for any reason."
    Isn't the school setting up the student's account, not Google? But yes that's good common sense advice and I would hope Google has some sort of guidelines for schools setting up student accounts. 
  • Reply 18 of 46
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    gatorguy said:
    The author is free to correct me if mistaken but in this latest report the EFF is not claiming Google is "spying" on schoolchildren, nor is Google attempting to collect data about children that they should not. The way I've read the report is that schools themselves are not handling student privacy in the manner they should. The way the article was written implies over and over that this is Google doing something onerous, which is not what the EFF is saying is it? 

    Edited for clarification
    No matter how clear cut Google's complicity is in data theft and mining, you always manage to be the apologist for them, quite grotesque.
    Don't confuse pointing out inaccuracies in an author's article with claiming there's nothing "nothing to see here". What's should be your actual concern is not only acceptance but promotion of of FUD no matter who writes it. 
    singularityrevenant
  • Reply 19 of 46
    techrulestechrules Posts: 53unconfirmed, member
    Andrew3 said:
    Google and Chromebooks are the best thing to happened in education for a  long time.
    Thanks Andrew and you are 100% correct. Our schools have adopted Chromebooks now all the way down to 3rd grade. But it is not only the Chromebooks but the Google software with analytics that has been an even bigger plus for K-12.

    Our school district is one of the pilots and not sure how widespread but they are now tracking student performance based on teacher. In the past there was so much gut and this will use data to have the ideal teacher with each kid. This will make huge differences.

    I have ZERO idea the beef with this author but honestly it is rather juvenile.
    edited April 2017
  • Reply 20 of 46
    It's nice to see commenters on here debunking the heavy implications of unfounded lies in this 'news' article. As they have detailed, the EFF found fault with the schools, and their poor grasp of privacy, not Google itself. 

    I know this is an Apple-centered site but Jesus, you'll bend over backwards to twist a source to suite the 'Google is the worst tech company ever" mentality, won't you? Other commenters saying things like "Google needs to die" - Really, a hell of a lot more people use Google than Apple devices, so it terms of impact on the world, I think it should be the other way around. 

    And yes, before anyone says "well you're on an Apple Fanboy site so", I created an account solely for this comment. Seriously, be rational, mature adults. Get out of your iCaves and stop hiding from what you don't like. 
    muthuk_vanalingam
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